Illuminating Prism for Rangefinder
Illuminating Prism for Rangefinder
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- Description
- After the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, American leaders realized that the best optical instruments came from German shops. Thus, to obtain the spy glasses, binoculars, range finders, and other optical instruments needed by its fighting forces, they commandeered the resources of private optical and instrument shops. And they authorized the establishment of a new optical shop at the Washington Navy Yard. That facility, later termed the Naval Weapons Plant Optical Shop, gave this illuminating prism for rangefinders to the Smithsonian in 1961.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- Prism, Rangefinder
- Physical Description
- glass (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 2 3/16 in x 3/4 in x 5/16 in; 5.588 cm x 1.905 cm x.8255 cm
- overall: 13/16 in x 2 1/8 in x 7/16 in; 2.06375 cm x 5.3975 cm x 1.11125 cm
- ID Number
- PH.319360
- catalog number
- 319360
- accession number
- 237036
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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